My personal US customs experience

[actob99 156]

The last two times coming back from the Phils I have been pulled aside and checked for extensive amounts of time. In January I transitted Hawaii and was pulled right at the desk, red flag of some sort. Was asked a few quistions and everything in my small carry on gone through.. Three weeks ago I was transitting Atlanta and was pulled at the desk and led to a Customs office. Asked why I was in the Phils and if I checked a bag. I had checked one this time, so we went and got my bag. AFter that I was brought to another area where I was asked about 30 questions: WHy was I in the Phils? - I was visiting family and friends. WHo are the family and friends? - My fiancee and friends of mine that live there.. DO you have proof showing your relationship with your fancee? - No,( I tried not being a smartass and I wasn't but asked why I needed that and I have never been asked before) DO you have plans to bring her to the States and why you haven't? I said as soon as you approve my fiancee visa she will be standing here next to me. WHat type of visa is she getting? K1 fiancee visa I said.. When did you file for the visa? Sent in Jan 27th and received confirmation Feb 3rd.. And a couple more questions about her I can't remember, nothing big.

ANd all kinds of questions about work and my last employer as I traveled all around the world with that company, but specific to why I was going to the Phils. I told him I have been going to the Phils almost every month for the last year and I lived there for 3+ years on my 10 -15 days off a month. Also, I have a passport full of stamps and places in all continents in the world, some not nice places, and I'm getting questioned about the Phils? No comment from him. I asked why I have never been stopped coming into the US from all over the world, even the Phils over the last 5 years and now I have been stopped the last two times. No comment from him.. I told him with some of the places I have been in the world I would expect you to ask me about those trips- no comment from him

EVery question he asked he typed all the info in the computer and almost all of the questions relating to the Philippines only. HE didn't even look in my bags and he was decent and was a nice guy. But he wouldn't clue me in to why all the questions. I don't have a record, taxes are paid, no child support issues..

HAs this happened to anyone else in the past or recently? The only reason I can think of this happening is due to my application for the fiancee visa. ANy thoughts?

[B_J 2,752]

I was standing in line, watching all the people in front of me get waved through after a couple of questions. When I got there, I was immediately sent to the other line. Then I was asked a ton of questions. I asked if they just randomly select people to send to that line and I was politely told "no". So, I just answered all their questions and was finally sent through.

I think maybe I looked suspicious as I was standing in line - my eyes were darting all around, I kept looking around the area. I was really just trying to find a restroom but I can understand how they got confused.

[Wally G! 58]

Sorry you had to go through that!! My thoughts is the frequency of trips in and out the Philippines. Also your petition is probably in the background check phase and your name popped up in there database. Now this is only my thoughts not fact. So if anybody has ever gone through similar, please add your thoughts and experience. Edited April 2, 2012 by Wally Greene

[dale_trisha 3]

Prior to submitting our petition for K3 I was in and out of Phil all the time due to business. Once we submitted the application I was in and out of Phil probably once a month. Then once Trisha got to the US I would still go every 6 months. I have only been asked a few questions and never been asked for further inspection or pulled out of line. When Trisha did arrive, we did get our bags searched which was to be expected.

[zzzlpr 7]

I had one of these "nice" stops when I flew from Manila to Detroit. Flight into US was MNL-DTW.

Not a single issue when traveling several times from Manila to NY via Tokyo. Flights into US were NRT-JFK.

I think if you are in a specific age bracket, male, travelling alone directly from Manila, you might trigger the search.

Kind of stupid cause one just needs to buy a ticket connecting through Tokyo and is home free.

The real criminals know that.

[actob99 156]

I had one of these "nice" stops when I flew from Manila to Detroit. Flight into US was MNL-DTW.

Not a single issue when traveling several times from Manila to NY via Tokyo. Flights into US were NRT-JFK.

I think if you are in a specific age bracket, male, travelling alone directly from Manila, you might trigger the search.

Kind of stupid cause one just needs to buy a ticket connecting through Tokyo and is home free.

The real criminals know that.

Yes that's a good point. I forgot to add that all of my flights are Manila- NArita and then to a US city.. Atlanta and Honalulu were both first times in those locations so not sure that had anything to do with it. But both of these instances, it was definitley a red tag generated by the computer as they indicated to the other customs personnel. It wasn't they saw me and decided to run me thru the gauntlet. And typically they will only mark your customs declaration form with a mark that tells the agents to do a check after getting your bags. Never have I seen the agent at the window close their counter and hand walk the person(ME) to a special area for questioning. Just a little Funny that I have come into the states hundreds of times from all over the world including the Phils many times with nothing and now all of a sudden something in the computer is saying to do a detatiled check/questioning.

[actob99 156]

I had one of these "nice" stops when I flew from Manila to Detroit. Flight into US was MNL-DTW.

Not a single issue when traveling several times from Manila to NY via Tokyo. Flights into US were NRT-JFK.

I think if you are in a specific age bracket, male, travelling alone directly from Manila, you might trigger the search.

Kind of stupid cause one just needs to buy a ticket connecting through Tokyo and is home free.

The real criminals know that.

Yes that's a good point. I forgot to add that all of my flights are Manila- NArita and then to a US city.. Atlanta and Honalulu were both first times in those locations so not sure that had anything to do with it. But both of these instances, it was definitley a red tag generated by the computer as they indicated to the other customs personnel. It wasn't they saw me and decided to run me thru the gauntlet. And typically they will only mark your customs declaration form with a mark that tells the agents to do a check after getting your bags. Never have I seen the agent at the window close their counter and hand walk the person(ME) to a special area for questioning. Just a little Funny that I have come into the states hundreds of times from all over the world including the Phils many times with nothing and now all of a sudden something in the computer is saying to do a detatiled check/questioning.

[Hank_ 9,174]

My thinking is because of your recently filing for the K-1 and USCIS is having background checks run on you and your fiancee so this somehow is causing your name to pop-up on their computers at customs. Add that to that the frequent travels and up pops the red flag.

[smithmm 1]

My experience was similar. Delta flights via Narita to ROC October 2010 & ELM December 2011. Fewer questions were asked, but our visa application was 4 years ago. Had patdown as I opted out of millimeter scan. No checked bags. I've seen a few older posts on this topic, but I don't recall any before 2010? This isn't the "welcome to the US" I'd like my wife and kids to have. I've only gone to the PI since 1998.